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Staff

The brief descriptions below are designed to familiarize you with our staff's training, professional credentials and work experience.


Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists

Dr. Robert H. Sheinberg, D.P.M.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Dr. Carlo A. Messina, D.P.M.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Carlo A. Messina D.P.M. is an American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery board-certified Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgeon practicing podiatric surgery and medicine in West Broward since 2009.  He specializes in treating extensive foot, ankle and leg injuries and conditions in infants, children, teenagers, and adults. Dr. Messina's passion is podopediatrics, the treatment of conditions and deformities in infants, children and teenagers. He obtained his undergraduate degree at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He graduated Magna Cum Laude as Salutatorian from the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL in Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery. He also completed a fellowship with the German Foot and Ankle Society in 2009 before joining our practice. His interests include treatment of complex deformities in children and adults and has extensive experience in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery employing state of the art surgical techniques.  He has broad experience in the surgical treatment of ankle and foot fractures, correction of complicated foot deformities including flatfoot and cavus foot deformities, fusions, tendon transfers. He lives in Weston with his wife, Victoria, their son, Sam, their daughter, Victoria, and their French Bulldogs, Mapache and Nya. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Messina continues to be active in the local communities and involved in local schools and sport teams as team physician.

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Dr. Michael M. Cohen, D.P.M.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Dr. Michael M Cohen obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, Texas with a bachelor of science in science and mathematics in 1980. He acquired his medical degree from the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California in 1984 with a bachelor of science in medical sciences and a doctorate in podiatric medicine. He completed his surgical residency training at Jerry L Pettis Memorial hospital in Loma Linda, California. He was hired immediately out of residency as director of residency training and chief of podiatry at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Miami, Florida where he remains as acting chief of podiatry surgery. Dr. Cohen received an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Barry University in 2004. He completed a mini-fellowship in peripheral nerve surgery with professor A Lee Dellon M.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine department of plastic surgery and neurosurgery with additional training in techniques of microsurgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery. He has a keen interest in Sports Medicine electing a sabbatical in Gotenborg and Stockholm Sweden with distinguished orthopedic surgeons that included Jon Karrlson MD Ph.D., Jan Lidstrom MD Ph.D., Ibrahim Turan MD Ph.D., and Lars Peterson MD Ph.D.

Dr. Cohen has authored multiple publications in orthopedic and podiatric peer-reviewed journals. This includes a chapter in the renowned Textbook of Foot and Ankle Surgery third edition, edited by E Dalton McGlamry on the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of the calcaneal fracture. He also published one of the first FDA approved pilot studies on the safety and efficacy of Hyalgan viscosupplementation in the ankle, coauthored with Dr. Roy Altman (former chief of arthritis at Jackson Memorial Hospital now at University of California Los Angeles, School of Medicine). Among his many publications also include the innovative surgical procedures introduced to correct hallux valgus deformity with the Crescentic Shelf and the Oblique Proximal Phalangeal osteotomies. He is a journal reviewer for the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery and former reviewer of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Dr. Cohen currently holds faculty positions at Barry University, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Samuel Merritt School of Podiatric Medicine in California, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Rosalind Franklin School of Podiatric Medicine. and Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Cohen has extensive experience in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery employing state of the art surgical techniques. This includes the use of Taylor Spatial Frames for computer-based gradual deformity correction and reconstruction of the diabetic foot and ankle using the most current techniques. He is one of few surgeons with experience in total ankle replacement surgery using the STAR, Salto and In Bone implants. Additionally, he is one of few surgeons to revise failed total ankle implants. He has broad experience in the surgical treatment of ankle and foot fractures, correction of complicated foot deformities including flatfoot and cavus foot deformities, fusions, tendon transfers and treatment of the drop foot.

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Dr. John Goodner, D.P.M
Foot and Ankle Surgeon

John D. Goodner D.P.M. is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon practicing podiatry in West Broward since 2018. He specializes in treating foot, ankle, and leg injuries in children, teenagers, and adults.

Growing up locally in Weston, FL, he was a two-sport varsity letterman in baseball and football at St. Thomas Aquinas High School where he received Wendy’s High School Heisman and Miami Herald Silver Knight Nominations as a student-athlete. Knowing that his calling was a career in sports medicine, he turned down numerous offers to play collegiate football and baseball and accepted a full academic scholarship to the University of Florida, where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Pre-Professional Health Science. He then graduated with Pi Delta Eta honors from the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, and completed his surgical residency at Memorial Healthcare System in Broward County, receiving surgical training from many renowned foot and ankle surgeons including podiatrists, and adult & pediatric orthopedists.

Dr. Goodner is active in the local communities, working closely with numerous Broward High Schools covered by the South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine, including his alma mater, St. Thomas Aquinas. He is particularly passionate about his continued involvement (since 2003) with Kids In Distress, an organization with a mission to prevent child abuse, preserve the family, and treat abused and neglected children.

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Dr. Christina Pena Garcia D.P.M.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Christina Pena Garcia, DPM is a fellowship trained Podiatric Surgeon, board qualified in Foot Surgery. Dr. Garcia treats all ailments of the foot and ankle in adults, children, and teens. Her specialized interests include surgical and conservative treatment of foot deformities, foot fractures, sprains, and injuries

Dr. Garcia received her undergraduate education from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. She went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Biomedical Science at Barry University. While obtaining her doctoral degree Dr. Garcia participated in research for diabetic limb salvage and was the recipient of the John Steinberg Limb Salvage Award upon graduation from Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine. She then went on to complete her surgical residency training, with added credential in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery, at Memorial Healthcare System in Broward County. During residency Dr. Garcia completed numerous additional surgical training courses for both internal and external fixation, arthroscopy, limb salvage, and trauma. After residency Dr. Garcia felt her passion was in Sports Medicine and therefore completed a Fellowship in Sports Medicine and Rearfoot Reconstruction. During this time she was able to receive specialized training in treating sports injuries and had the opportunity to lecture at conferences on this topic

Dr. Garcia returns back home to Broward County after two years of private practice in Naples FL. She now lives in Davie with her husband, two sons, and their dog Kole. Having grown up here locally in Pembroke Pines she attended local schools including St. Mark Catholic School and Archbishop McCarthy High School. She is very excited to be back home near family and friends, serving the Broward County community.

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Orthopaedic Surgeons

Dr. Alfred A. DeSimone, M.D.
Orthopaedic Surgeon

Al DeSimone, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. He graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed his residency at Boston University Medical Center. He is fellowship trained in sports medicine from the University of Colorado, specializing in complex knee and shoulder reconstructive surgery. His interests include arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction, meniscal repair and cartilage resurfacing techniques. He is also focused on the arthroscopic treatment of shoulder instability, impingement and rotator cuff tears. He has participated as a team physician for the U.S. Olympic Skiing team, National Rugby team, and the Boston University Intercollegiate Athletic Program. Dr. DeSimone treats community and professional athletes and has served as the official orthopaedic surgeon and Director of the Medical All-Star Team for the Florida Panthers. He has published articles and presented research on sports medicine and has a keen interest in exercise, nutrition, and alternative medicine. He is the Director of Sports Medicine at the South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine. He is currently a diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

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Dr. Alexander Bertot, M.D.
Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. Alexander J. Bertot is a board-certified Orthopaedic surgeon. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He graduated medical school from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He completed his orthopaedic surgery training at Tulane University Medical Center and Charity Hospital of New Orleans, where he served as an administrative chief orthopaedic resident. At Tulane, he received the Leneord Mounar Award for the outstanding senior resident. Dr. Bertot went on to complete a sports medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. At Johns Hopkins, he provided orthopaedic coverage for the school’s NCAA football and lacrosse teams, as well as for the Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball team. Dr. Bertot has published various research articles in some of the leading orthopaedic review journals. He currently serves as the team physician for Monsignor PACE High School. He specializes in arthroscopy, sports medicine, shoulder and knee reconstruction and replacement surgery. His interests also include general orthopaedic, pediatric and adult trauma/fracture care.

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Dr. Pedro Ricart, M.D.
Spine Surgery

Dr. Ricart received his Medical Degree in 2006 from the UNIBE School of Medicine in the Dominican Republic. He continued on to an Orthopedic Spine Research Fellowship at NYU- Hospital for Joint Diseases while also completing a Master of Science in Ergonomics and Biomechanics at NYU Graduate School of Arts & Science in 2011. Dr. Ricart concluded his Orthopedic Surgery Residency in 2016 at Westchester Medical Center in New York. He completed his Orthopedic Spine Surgery Fellowship at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oaks, Michigan in 2017.

Dr. Ricart’s Specialties include:
  • Spine deformities and scoliosis
  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy
  • Lumber sciatica and herniated disc
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery
  • Spine trauma and fractures
  • Complex cases and revision surgeries
  • Failed back surgery
  • General orthopedics and trauma
Dr. Ricart will be accepting new patient Sports Medicine Associates of South Florida, PA as of September 1, 2023.

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Hand and Wrist Surgery

Dr . David Shenassa, M.D.
Hand and Wrist Surgeon

Dr. David Shenassa is a fellowship-trained Hand, Wrist, and Microvascular Surgeon. He specializes in reconstructive surgery of the hand and wrist, sports injuries, trauma, nerve compression syndromes, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and wrist arthroscopy. Dr.Shenassa attended New York University for his undergraduate studies and attended medical school at the prestigious Technion Israel Institute of Technology Faculty of Medicine in Haifa, Israel. After completing his surgical residency in New York at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health

system, an affiliate of the NYU/Albert Einstein Schools of Medicine, he moved to Los Angeles to complete his sub-specialty training. Dr.Shenassa completed his hand surgery training at the Joseph H. Boyes Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship Program in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at The University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. At USC he worked under an expert team of doctors directly responsible for the care and treatment of the USC Trojans athletic teams.

After completing his training, Dr.Shenassa joined the team of physicians at the South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine as their Hand and wrist specialist. Dr.Shenassa is committed to providing the highest level of care for musculoskeletal and neurovascular conditions of the upper extremity. After an appropriate diagnosis has been made, treatment is geared towards the restoration of function, pain control, and return to pre-injury activity level. He believes in a multidisciplinary approach and always maximizes conservative treatment before considering surgery.

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